Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Jamey Johnson -- Black, White, or Otherwise

Jamey Johnson has a new, as yet untitled, album, or maybe albums, coming out soon. And it's all quite confusing.

Here's what I know: I've heard these 25 songs, spread across two CDs, and they're superb. I've written about Jamey before, and not much has changed. He still looks like a Hells Angels biker and he still sings like a Redneck Angel, equal parts Waylon Jennings and George Jones. He has a voice for the Heavenly Honky Tonk. Set 'em up, Jesus, and give me a double shot of redemption and grace. Better yet, his songwriting invests the most cliched country music subjects with freshness and authenticity. He's been to hell and back, and he'll tell you about it, but he does so more as a confessional singer/songwriter than as a Stetson-hatted hack. His 2008 album That Lonesome Song was about as good as country music gets, as far as I'm concerned.

So ... there are two albums here, one called Black and one called White, both possibly part of a larger concept album called The Guitar Song. Apparently it's still up in the air. Black is a song cycle of drinkin', druggin', cheatin' and generally pissin' life away, while White seems to offer some glimmers of hope. Take 'em together and they tell a story of redemption. Take 'em separately and there are about a dozen tunes here that deserve to be huge hits, and would considerably improve the fare heard over the radio.

I dearly love this guy. I'm fairly certain that anybody who loves George, Waylon, or Merle would love him, too.

3 comments:

Andy, would it be possible to post a track list for the 25 songs you listened to? I'd love to hear the names of the new songs for the two concept albums. If this would be ok, that would be cool. Thanks.

1. By the Seat of Your Pants2. California Riots3. Dog in the Yard4. The Guitar Song5. That's Why I Write Songs6. Macon7. Thankful for the Rain8. Good Morning Sunrise9. Front Porch Swing Afternoon10. I Remember You11. Good Times Ain't What They Used to Be12. For the Good Times13. My Way to You

The 2-CD set is indeed called "The Guitar Song." There are several covers up there that may ring a bell, most notably Mel Tillis' (by way of Waylon) "Mental Revenge" and Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times."

Followers

About Me

Successfully disguised as a suburbanite. One wife, Kate, of indeterminate age, two daughters, Katryn, 24, a first-year grad student at Rutgers University, and Rachel, 21, a senior at Ohio University.
I'm 54, still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. I write techie books and develop IT marketing materials for one of my paychecks. I love music, literature, and films. I write a lot, for Paste Magazine, for All Music Guide (allmusic.com), for Christianity Today Magazine, for Image Journal. Sometimes I speak about music on college campuses and at Arts conferences. I love Jesus, sometimes not all that well, but I struggle with the way that is expressed in most American churches. Then again, I struggle with the way I express my faith as well. I'm holding out for grace and forgiveness. Without it, I'm in trouble.
I could not care less about fertilizer or lawn care, but I can discuss the merits of Ortho Weed 'n Feed vs. Scott's Turbuilder in a pinch. This is what comes of living in suburbia.